NATIONAL VIDEO

Driver services office has new manager

A new manager is at the helm of the Department of Driver Services in Gainesville.

Adan Palacio, who spent 22 years in the U.S. Marines, has been named manager for the full service licensing center at 1010 Aviation Blvd., Gainesville, according to a news release from the department.

Palacio will be responsible for all daily operations, which includes scheduling and management of employees, administrative and financial duties and maintaining customer service performance.

The center served 7,662 customers in July, according to the news release, with an average wait time of 12 minutes and 51 seconds. The year before, the wait time averaged more than 40 minutes.

The location has become a pilot center for processes aimed at boosting customer service. Most recently, the center began using electronic tablets to conduct commercial road tests.

“Deemed a huge success for reducing errors, eliminating fraud and improving efficiency, this technology has been implemented at the eight additional CDL testing locations throughout the state,” according to the news release.

The center is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. Visitors can plan ahead by visiting www.dds.ga.gov to ensure they bring all the necessary documents.